Fluid engine



April 7, 1942.

C. w. H. D. BENNET ETAL I FLUID ENGINE Filed Oct. 14, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 7, 19 2- c. w; H. D. BENNET ET AL 2,278,821

FLUID ENGINE Filed Oct. 14, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 2 far! MJHLD- .Bennef A nder: .L EnPyZander' A ril 7, 1942.

c. w. H. D. BENNET ET AL FLUID ENGINE Filed Oct. 14, 1940 3 Shets-Sheet 5 w m m J Carl MH.D.Ze2zrz et Anders [21%Zarzaer K Adar-nay.

Patented Apr. 7, 1942 FLUID ENGINE Carl Wilhelm Henrik Diicker Bennet and Anders Johan Emil Rylander, Stockholm, Sweden, assignors to Louise Gunnila Violet Bennet, Runeborg, Stocksund, Sweden Application October 14, 1940, Serial No. 361,174

. In Sweden October 13, 1939 (Granted under the provisions of sec. 14, act of March 2, 1927; 357 O. G.

7 Claims.

Our invention relates to engines, such as pumps, compressors or motors for liquid or gaseous working fluid of the type comprising a casing, a flexible wall in said casing arranged to perform uni-directional wave-like movements, and a movable member adapted to actuate said flexible wall or to be actuated thereby. The con-- struction and mode of operation of an engine of the type referred to will be briefly described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of an engine of'the type referred to, the cover thereof being removed, and Fig. 2 is a section on the line II--II, Fig. 1.

The engine comprises an oblong casing having a rectangular cross-section and being provided with a cover I I. At the ends of the casing there are provided bearings I2 and I3 for a helically shaped rod l4 hereinbelow termed the helix which forms the above-named movable member. A flexible band [5 and I6, respectively, is disposed on either side of the helix l4, said bands being connected to the bearings I2 and I3 and constituting flexible displaceable walls actuated by the helix Hi. The bands extend throughout the entire height of the casing as viewed in Fig. 2 so as to engage the cover II and the bottom wall of the casing with a tight fit. The distance between the ends of the bands is so much less than the actual length of the bands that they are in contact with the helix throughout the length of the same. The casing is provided with connections ll, l8, I9, 20 which communicate with the interior of the casing and serve as in-- lets and outlets for the working fluid.

If rotational movement is imparted to the helix M, the bands will perform uni-directional wavelike movements, each band acting as an endless piston having a continuous uni-directional movement. In this instance, the apparatus works as a displacement pump propelling a constant quantity of liquid for each revolution of the helix. The working chambers'Zl and 22 conflned by the walls of the casing and the bands will thus be moved in the direction from the inlets l1, l8 to the outlets I9 and 20, respectively, and the liquid enclosed in said chambers will bepropelled in the said direction. The apparatus may also be operated as a motor in which case a fluid under pressure is supplied to the casing, which fluid due to its pressure upon the bands imparts rotational movement to the helix from which power can bederived.

The present invention has for its principal objects to improve and simplify the construction hown, to prevent the bands from occupying an inclined position and from coming out of contact with the walls of the casing, and to provide a band construction including a plurality of individual elements designed to prevent leakage between adjacent working chambers. The invention is an improvement over the subject matter embodied in the Bennet Patent No. 2,244,418, dated July 23, 1941.

These and other objects are attained by mechanism illustrated in Figs. 8 to 14, in which- Fig. 3 shows a portion of the novel band construction with appertaining helix, viewed in the same direction as Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the elements shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section to an enlarged scale of one of the elements of the bands, the section being taken on the line V-V, Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the element;

Fig. 7 is a modification of an element;

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate an embodiment in which the bands are'surrounded by a flexible cover;

Fig. 10 is a further modification;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the modification shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line XII-XII, Fig.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a still further modification;

Fig. 14 is a section taken on the line XIV XIV, Fig. 13.

In accordance with the present invention, the flexible bands or walls l5 and I6 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are replaced by a number of contiguous elements. With reference to Figs. 5 and '6, it will be seen that each element 30 is in the form of a substantially rectangular body of crescentshaped cross-section. Each element has an oblong opening 3| for the helix l4. As will be seen from Fig. 5, the element is bounded on the front side as well as on the rear side by cylindrical surfaces 32 and 33 respectively having the same radius of curvature 1, whereas the upper side 34 and the lower side 35 are plane. The width of the opening 3| corresponds substantially to the diameter of the rod forming the helix l4, whereas the length of'said opening is at least equal to the sum of said diameter and the amplitude of the helix.

Figs. 3 and Jr-illustrate how a flexible wall each on either side of the helix I4 is formed by a number of elements 30 being placed adjacent to Due to the fact that the radii of each other. curvature of the surfaces 32 and 33 are equal to each other the elements will be maintained in mutual sealing contact during the relative movement of the elements caused by the wavelike movement of the walls with the result that an efiective seal will be obtained not only at the places where the crests of the walls are in contact with the casing lil, but also between the individual reciprocating movements to said elements, the abutting faces of said elements being bounded by cylindrical surfaces having equal radii of curvature. v

2. A fluid engine comprising a casing, a dis- -p1a ceab1e wall in said casing arranged to perworking chambers located on either side of the helix. The elements forming the walls are preferably disposed in such a manner. that the COQ: vex surfaces 33 are directed toward that side of the engine where the highest pressure is prevailing; otherwise the pressure of the working fluid exerted on the edges 36, 3l(see Fig. 5)

would tend to bring the elements out of contact.

with each other. The length of the elements,

that is the distance between the surfaces 34- and? (Fig. 6) should obviously be equal to the height of the working spaces as viewed in Fig 2 so that the elements can slide in the working spaces with a tight fit on the upper and lower wall of the casing. I elements engage each other in the manner indicated. they are prevented from occupying inclincd. positions in the casing.

According to different fields of application of the apparatus the elements 3;} may consist of metal, Bakelite, impregnated wood or the like. In order to increase the sealing effect between the elements, a sealing, strip 38 of suitable material, such as rubber, lead or Celluloid may be inserted in one of the cylindrical surfaces of the elements, as shown in Fig, 5. Such sealing strip extends preferably in a closed path around the opening 3i (Fig. 6).

If, the elements consist of a non-metallic or soft material, it can be advantageous to provide. surfaces of a suitable hard material at the places where the elements are in contact with each other and. with thehelix. An arrangement of this kind is shown in Fig. 7 in which the contactingsurfaces consist of a metal lining 39.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the elements 30 are entirely enclosedby a cover 46 of suitable material, such as rubber orCelluloid, which not only renders possible a perfect seal between the. working chambers but also substantially reduces the friction occurring between the flexible walls and the walls of the working chambers if water is used as a working medium and thecover lllconsists of rubber. If, however, me tallic contact is desired between the flexible walls and the walls of the casing, a thin wire ll may be wound about the cover 50, as shown in Figs. 10,-12l.

Figs. 13 and i4 illustrate an embodiment in which the helix I l is not in directcontact'with the plane sliding faces 42 of theelements til.

Due to the fact that the f0rm a uni-directional wave-like movement, and a movable member for cooperation with said displaceable Wall, whereby to effect wave-like movement of said wall, said displaceable wall including a Seriesof contiguous elements arranged to reciprocate in said casing and having openings for the receptionof said movable member, said movable member being arranged to cooperate with the walls of said openingwhereby to impart individual reciprocating movements to said elements, said elements being substantially crescent-shaped, in cross-section.

In this instance, individual and exchangeable sliding shoes 43 are inserted between the helix and the elements, which shoes shouldobviously be short as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the helix so as not to interfere with the wavelike movements of the flexible walls.

What we claim is:

1. A fluid engine comprising a casing, a dis-. placeable wall in said casing arranged to, perform a uni-directional wave-like movement, and a movable. member for cooperation with said disdirectional wave-like movement, and a movable member for cooperation, with said flexible wall,

whereby to effect wave-like movement ofv said.

wall, said flexible wall includinga series of contiguous elements arranged;toreciprocate in said casing; and having openings for the reception. of said movable member, said movable member being arranged-to cooperate with the walls, of said opening whereby to impartindividual recipr ocat-.

ing movements-tosaid elements, said elements.

being substantially.v crescent-shaped in cross-section, the convex surfacesofsaidelementsbeing. directed toward thehigh-pressureend of said engine.-

6 A fluid engine-comprising. a casing, aflexible I Wallinsaid'casing arranged to perform a .unie

directional-wave-like movement; and a movable member for cooperation with said flexible wall, wherebyto eifect -waye-like movement of said wall, said flexiblewallincluding: a series of cone.

tiguous elements, arranged to reciprocate in said casing and having openingsfor the reception of said movablemembel', said movable member being arranged tocooperatewith thewalls of said opening whereby to impart individual reciprocating movements to said elements and individual exchangeable. sliding shoes disposed be.- tween; said mcyabl'e member, and said elements.

7- A,,fi densi e ompr g. a casin a dis:

placeable wallin said; casingarranged to per.-. form a uni-directional wave-like movement, and.

a movable membenforgcoflperation with said displaceable wall; whereby to. effectlwave-like. move-. merit of said wall, said displaceable wallinclud-.

7, ing a series of contiguouselements. arranged to placeable wall, whereby to effect wave-like move- I ment of said wall, said displaceable wall including aseries of contiguous elements arrangedto.

reciprocate insaidcasing and having openings forthereception ofsaid movable member, said movable member being arranged .to cooperate '75 with the Walls ,of said openingwherebyto impart reciprocate, in said casing, and having openings for the receptionof saidmovable. member, said movable member being arranged to cooperate with the walls ofsaid; opening whereby to impart individual reciprocating movements to said elements, the abutting faces of, said elements being arranged to permitbend-ing of the wall but preventing twistingmpvement thereof,

- CARL; WILHELM Quentin .BENNEII;

ANDEBS o anna/ill. RYLANDER. 

